Our favourite places

It’s no surprise that over 7 million visitors flock to the capital of Catalunya every year. Barcelona offers something for everyone; stunning architecture, beaches, a vibrant nightlife, shopping, museums…there really is a huge amount to enjoy about this beautiful city. 

Having visited Barcelona many times for work and pleasure over the years, we have learned that there is much to appreciate beyond the hugely popular Rambla and tourist sights such as La Sagrada Familia (although they are must sees as well). The city bus tours running from Plaza Catalunya are a fantastic way to see the city (we’ve done many city bus tours and this is one of the best) and are a great start to any trip to Barcelona. You could hop off or on at the fabulous Parc Guell, a Gaudi masterpiece not to be missed. Also consider stopping in Montjuic, home of the old Olympic stadium and a short walk to the fabulous Poble Sec neighbourhood with it’s more laid back bars and up and coming foodie scene. 

No trip to Barcelona should be complete without a trip to the fascinating Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), it’s literally teeming with history and incredible, centuries old lanes filled with tapas and cava bars (our favourite is the Orio). From here, it’s just a short walk back up La Rambla to the Placa Reial for a cup of coffee and a spot of people watching, then onto La Boqueria, Barcelona’s famous bustling market full of incredible sights and smells! 

Barcelona is also blessed with it’s beaches, with Barceloneta the most well known and popular in the city. It’s only a short trip down the coast to beautiful Casteldeffels (and you may bump into a footballer or two!). Barcelona also boasts a fabulous port, filled with giant yachts and surrounded by classy bars and restaurants. 

New Zealand is often described as being a bit like the UK, thirty years ago. It’s a bit of a lazy comparison we think. When you’re lying on a pristine white sandy beach, looking out over a stunning jade green sea you feel about as far away from England as you can be (literally and figuratively speaking!). The Bay of Islands is full of natural beauty, history and incredible hospitality. 

Located in the very far north of New Zealand’s north island, the Bay of Islands is a short flight or three hour drive from Auckland. With it’s sub-tropical climate it really is a haven for those who love beaches and life on the water. The Bay of Islands is so named because it’s made up of 144 islands scattered around the beautiful and welcoming towns of Paihia, Russell, Kerikeri and Opua. 

From Paihia, there are many tour operators who will gladly take you around the bay where you will very likely encounter the plentiful marine life on a trip out to the famous ‘hole in the rock’. Further north, a trip up to Coopers Beach and Cable Bay offer a glimpse of idyllic, laid back beach town life.

Get close to nature just a little further inland at stunning Puketi Forest, home to thousands of ancient, enormous Kauri trees as well as the odd kiwi or too. Whilst no match for Marlborough further south, there are plenty of excellent wineries to choose from that you could pop into around the Bay of Islands area.

Life is certainly more laid back in the Bay of Islands but really, that's where the comparisons with the Britain of old end. 

‘Tassie’ as it’s affectionately known is a hugely under-rated stop which should be on everyone’s radar if you are making a trip out to the other side of the world. 

Located 240 miles off the south coast of Australia (a one hour flight from Melbourne), separated from the mainland by the Bass Straight, Tasmania is an incredibly beautiful and diverse island, with a temperate climate and scenery closer to what you might expect from England than Australia at times. We've spent several lovely holidays in Hobart and Southern Tasmania and it's never disappointed. 

The capital Hobart is full of history, culture and a red-hot food scene yet still retains an innocence long since gone from the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The annual ‘Taste of Tassie’ brings everything that’s great about the island together and is not to be missed if you’re lucky enough to be there when it’s on (end of December into early January). Hobart also offers a gateway to beautiful beach towns such as Freycinet, Swansea and Bicheno, whilst nearby Richmond and Port Arthur offer a glimpse into Australia’s distant past. 

The impressive views from Mount Wellington, which overlooks Hobart, are very much worth the drive up, whilst a trip to the Bellerive Oval, home of the Hobart Hurricanes is a great night out for sport lovers. 

Tasmania isn’t small and road trips around the island are popular, and stunning beaches, incredible scenery and wildlife can be found at almost every turn. Much of the centre of Tasmania is very remote and barely populated, whilst the coasts are scattered with idyllic beaches. We’ve been lucky enough to visit Tasmania several times and each time we’ve left we wished we were staying just a bit longer! 

If you were to shut your eyes for a moment and conjure up a picture of a ‘tropical paradise’ you would probably end up pretty close to an image of Langkawi. 

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands located on the north west coast of Malaysia and boasts some of the country’s best beaches, not to mention a vibrant rainforest, mangroves and bat caves (yep, more about that later). 

Whilst there is no doubt that the beaches are incredible, Langawi has so much more to offer than sun and sand. For unrivalled views, take a trip in the ‘Skycab’ cable car up Mount Machinchang. It’s one of the steepest cable car rides in the world. Kayaking through the Kilim Geoforest Park is an experience not to be missed. When we did this trip, we saw everything from huge monitor lizards to sea otters and sea eagles! As you travel through the mangroves, you will arrive at Bat Cave (Gua Kelawar) where you can be the guests of literally thousands of bats nesting at the top of the cave. It’s a sight (and smell) to behold! 

There are many island-hopping excursions on offer and many visitors opt to take the ferry for a day trip to beautiful Penang. 

Langkawi is a fabulous destination for a holiday in it’s own right or as a stop-over if you are travelling further east. 

For us, this is the very heart of the Costa del Sol. Having visited these areas since the late 80’s it is very much a favourite place of ours whether for a long weekend with friends or a family holiday. This area, and particularly Torremolinos have been typecast over the years but there really is so much more here than meets the eye.

Of course, it's super accessible from the UK. Flights from London are 2hrs 30mins, and most major airports fly direct to Malaga. From the airport it's around 20 mins in a taxi to get to Torremolinos/Benalmadena.

The sea-front is lined with hotels, with several more around the marina including some adult only options. Our favourite area is La Carihuela which is ideally positioned next to the beautiful Benalmadena marina. A lot of holiday lets with private pools are available along this stretch of coast giving you the choice of something different if you don't fancy a hotel (but they do get snapped up super quickly). 

The food in this part of the world is to die for. You can eat fresh fish/tapas at the chiringuitos along the beach and there are also bars and restaurants at the back of this promenade which has a thriving atmosphere to people watch and eat some local delicacies all washed down with a glass of rioja!

Benalmadena Marina has an array of resturants and bars which serve various cuisines. Get the right spot and you can spend the evening watching the boats coming in. The nightlife is this area is buzzing and very accommodating for all ages!

So many people fly into Malaga and then only come back to fly home. This is a mistake! Malaga is a stunning city, almost a small version of Barcelona and half the price! You can get the train/bus from Torremonlinos and it takes you to the very heart of the city. Wonder around the fresh food market and sample some of the delights on offer, then head to the cathedral which is spectacular and well worth a visit inside too! You can head up the AC Hotel to the roofbar which has panoramic views of the city and a pool, it's always worth getting out of the Spanish heat to rehydrate with a cocktail or 2! The red buses are everywhere and a truly great way to see the city, you won’t want to climb the path up to Gibralfaro Castle so the bus will take you there!

You probably don't need us to tell you how beautiful Como looks, but it's only once you've taken in the stunning views, food, culture and calm of the place that you can really appreciate it. 

We've been lucky to travel a fair bit (it's why we do what we do!) and Como has to be one of most naturally beautiful places we've seen. After taking the short flight to Milan, Como can be accessed by bus, car or taxi (although it is a 90 minute journey and the taxis are extremely expensive so if you don't fancy the bus, it's often more economical if you do hire a car). Once you're in Como, the best method of transport are the boats which constantly travel over the lake and can take you to beautiful towns such as Bellagio, Mennaggio and Lenno.  These stunning little towns are, as you would expect, filled with restaurants and bars offering fabulous local food and drinks, as well as fashion outlets and all sorts of shops, ancient churches and villas. 

If you do have a car, definitely take the trip up to the village of Peglio at the north end of the lake and visit the church of San Eusebio. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views over the entire lake (this is where the picture above was taken). On the other side, you won't forget the sight of the imposing Alps which overlook the whole area. 

Like all of the Italian lakes, Como is famous for its magnificent villas (George Clooney is amongst the celebrities that owns one here) and those open to the public are often free or just a few euros to visit. Our favourite was Villa Monastero, with its magical fruit garden (the smells were out of this world). Casino Royale was filmed at nearby Villa del Balbianello as well.  

Just perfect for that long weekend away or as a stop on a longer trip, we promise you won't be disappointed with beautiful Como. 

There are many reasons why New York is top of many US city visit bucket lists (we love it too) but Chicago is every bit as huge, impressive and packed full of culture, history and things to do. 

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States (after New York and Los Angeles). Downtown Chicago is architecturally magnificent, dripping with art-deco structures from the 20's and impressive modern giants like the Willis Tower. At the heart of the downtown area is the Magnificent Mile, one of the most famous shopping districts in America and filled with an array of stores, bars, restaurants and hotels. You are also only a stones throw away from Lakeshore Drive, and in the summer you can take some time out from shopping on the small beach down at the lakefront and soak in some rays! 

You'll need at least three to five days to see the best of Chicago. Millennium Park is a must see (including the famous 'Bean' sculpture). So is Museum Campus, located right by the lake. This huge site houses the Field Museum of Natural History, the impressive Shed Aquarium and the fascinating Adler Planetarium. The river walks and cruises downtown are extremely popular, with many guided options or dinner cruises available. 

Chicago is one of the biggest sports towns in the US and is home to the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox. Tickets for the Bears (NFL) and Cubs (Baseball) are not easy to come by but if you're lucky enough to do it, a trip to Wrigley Field (home of the Cubs and one of the most iconic stadiums in all sports) is a must do. 

Clearwater is home to some of the very best beaches in the whole of the United States and coupled with it's laid back vibe and almost year round great weather, it's an ideal destination for a family holiday. 

Like we did, many British families visit to relax after a hectic trip to Orlando and the theme parks (get in touch for great advice and deals on Orlando!). Clearwater is nothing like Orlando, nor does is have the spring break type loudness of Fort Lauderdale. It's got a really chilled feel to it and truly breathtaking beaches and warm, clear water! It has an array of really relaxed but high quality bars and restaurants to grab a cool beer, a cocktail and a rack of ribs! 

Pier 60 is a really popular spot to take in some street performances, arcades and little boutique stalls selling hand-made crafts. It gets busier in early evening as crowds gather to watch the most incredible sunsets. You'll likely be joined by a pelican or two as well! 

Just outside town is the Clearwater Aquarium, famous as the home of Winter the Dolphin from Dolphin Tale (if you know, you know!). They do fabulous work rehabilitating marine life before releasing them where possible back into their natural habitat. It's well worth a visit. 

There are many hugely popular boat tours that you can catch out into the bay and our favourite was 'Little Toot', an old fashioned tug style boat which creates huge bow waves that dolphins love to jump in and out of.